Help Save Maryland Newsletter

Help Save Maryland

March 15, 2010

Saturday Bond Hearings in Annapolis

Members of Help Save Maryland, People for Change in Prince George’s County and other groups (Citizens from Montgomery, PG and Baltimore Counties) spoke out strongly against funding for CASA de Maryland and Identity Inc. at the Maryland House and Senate Bond Hearings on Saturday March 13.

The full day of hearing could best be described as a Roman orgy with taxpayer $$$$$.  Approximately $82 million was promised by the various Senators and Delegates, although only $15 million will be approved accorded to the press.  Leading the gluttony were the likes of Delegates Ben Barnes (D-Prince George’s County) and Saqib Ali (D-Montgomery County).  These guys will do anything to get themselves re-elected.

CASA de Maryland head Gustavo Torres had the chutzpah to ask for $500K for his “multicultural center” in Langley Park Prince George’s County (SB 949, HB 1071);  Candice Kattar of Identity Inc, who was dragging along two young seemingly Hispanic youths as props asked for $350K for her gang clubhouse in Montgomery County (SB 822, HB 1178).

Our members and friends were the only citizens to participate in the Hearings and actually challenge ANY bond bill.  We clearly pointed out all the state and county budget deficits and on-going cuts in services, police and firemen furloughs, housing foreclosures, unemployment, and school cutbacks.  We did not see the need for ANY funding for CASA or Identity, organizations that provide services either redundant with current federal/state/local services in their regions or are so ethnic-centric that the vast majority of citizens would be excluded from using them.

With Maryland’s unemployment rate now at 7.5% and rising, and the home foreclosure rate up 9.6% in January and climbing to 10th in the nation (with Prince Georges County leading the way), how can our elected officials even think of spending $$$ on these two illegal alien support groups??   We will find out soon what our physical presence and strong testimonies did to turn off funding for these organizations.

WHILE GUSTAVO TORRES BEGGED FOR FUNDING, HIS MINIONS WERE BLANKETING MONTGOMERY AND PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTIES WITH MARCH 21 RALLY FLYERS

While CASA de Maryland (Central American Solidarity Association) head Gustavo Torres pleaded in Annapolis for more money for his new Langley Park illegal alien headquarters building, his workers were hitting the street.  HSM members were given flyers asking for supporters to join CASA & the National Area Immigration Coalition in DC, Sunday March 21 for a scheduled illegal alien rally.

The flyers, both in English and Spanish, had some remarkably dishonest language on it:

“Families  are divided – Immigrants die in detention – Workers are treated like criminals”

“Tell Congress and the President: Enough is Enough”

“Buses will leave from CASA de Maryland after 12:00 – Call to reserve a seat 1-866-877-5944″

I wonder who paid for the flyers and for the buses???

CONGRESSMAN VAN HOLLEN BLESSES AMNESTY & HSM PROTEST

A number of HSM members also sat in on the event to soak up Van Hollen’s remarkably dishonest presentation and sellout of America.

Van Hollen commits to immigration reform

By DIANA NGUYEN, Capital News Service

Published 03/13/10

SILVER SPRING – Rep. Chris Van Hollen committed to fight for comprehensive immigration reform at a rally Thursday night, vowing to work toward amnesty to protect and keep immigrant families together.

About 30 faith-based organizations, or more than 500 people, attended the pro-amnesty event at the Bethel World Outreach Ministries International Church sponsored by Action in Montgomery, or AIM, a coalition of diverse religious congregations in Montgomery County.

Van Hollen, D-Kensington, promised the religious network that he is committed to the passage of immigration reform; will fight for unified families and amnesty; and will work with and update AIM members on the issue as the process moves forward.

“I pledge, yes, to fight to make sure that the comprehensive immigration reform bill that we enact will ensure family reunification,” said Van Hollen. “And also to make sure that as part of the immigration reform, we allow people to come out of the shadows as fully participating citizens.”

Any reform, Van Hollen said, should also include the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, also known as the DREAM Act, which would grant conditional residency status to undocumented high school graduates who are in “good moral character” and plan to finish college.

“The fundamental idea is … that people have the opportunity to live the American dream,” Van Hollen said.

His commitment was appreciated by a cheering crowd — many of them hoping for more action from politicians.

“I encourage them to take a leadership role,” said Donna Brown, rector of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. “Not just vote but help propel (immigration reform) to the surface.”

However, political strategists say some politicians will try to avoid the controversial issue in order to keep their seat during the midterm elections.

“It is clear that politicians are reluctant to move on the issue,” said William Galston, senior fellow at the Brookings Institute.

And although most members of Congress favor reform and Obama promised reform during the 2008 presidential elections, Galston said, politicians are aware that most people believe unemployment will go up if immigration reform is passed.

“Immigration reform is not about job security for our elected officials,” said Bishop Darlingston Johnson of the Bethel World Outreach Church. “It’s about justice. Immigration reform is not about Democrat versus Republican. It’s about the future of American citizens, children of undocumented workers who have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness in their own country with their own parents.”

Outside the event, a few protestors held anti-illegal immigration signs and passed out flyers regarding the economic impact of illegal immigrants.

“I want to educate them that there are 16 million Americans without jobs,” said Paul Mendez, a member of Help Save Maryland, the largest anti-illegal immigration group in the state.

“There are a lot of people that need jobs — native-born people — and there are 8 million illegal aliens that have jobs right now, so that’s 8 million jobs that could go to Americans.”

The Federation for American Immigration Reform, a Washington-based anti-illegal immigration organization, projected that Maryland taxpayers will pay $500 million for emergency medical care, education and incarceration costs if illegal immigrants receive amnesty in 2010.

Other analyses found illegal immigrants have a beneficial impact on the economy. For example, the Washington-based Center for American Progress found immigration reform would increase the United State‘s gross domestic product by $1.5 trillion over a decade.

On Thursday, President Obama also reaffirmed his commitment to immigration reform in meetings with several activists.

Obama also met with Sens. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., to kick off a Senate bipartisan effort on the issue.

Van Hollen said he was looking forward to working with them and his colleagues in the House.

Only one Maryland congressman has sponsored legislation regarding immigration reform this year.

Rep. Frank Kratovil, D-Stevensville, co-sponsored legislation that would reject amnesty for illegal immigrants, called for stronger border protection, and would require employers to use the federal E-Verify system, which is used to determine a worker’s status.

Kratovil, who faces a tough reelection, also introduced legislation in February to penalize employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants.